Thursday, December 8, 2011

Hydrogen sulfide high at 53 wells, Noble says

Noble Energy is reporting dangerous levels of hydrogen sulfide gas have been measured at least once at dozens of its wells not just in Garfield County, but Weld County as well.

The company says 21 of its wells in the Piceance Basin have had levels at or above 100 parts per million on at least one occasion, as have 32 wells in the Grover oil and gas field in Weld County.

Short-term exposures at such levels can cause several health problems, and exposures lasting hours can cause death. But Noble Energy says safety protocols are in place to protect workers.

Noble Energy reported its findings as part of a response to allegations by state regulators that it failed to comply with requirements to report hydrogen sulfide gas encountered at oil and gas sites in the two counties.

Noble Energy also reported lower levels of hydrogen sulfide at eight of its wells in Mesa County, several miles south of Parachute. Noble Energy spokesman Stephen Flaherty said gas chromatograph tests at those sites all found levels less than two parts per million. The highest reading for any of those wells was 50 ppm, using a less accurate test designed simply to confirm the presence of the gas for the sake of workers, he said.

Bureau of Land Management spokesman David Boyd said that when Noble Energy has experienced hydrogen sulfide at federal well pads in the Piceance, it hasn’t been in the natural gas itself, but in liquids at the sites, and it has been associated with some wells on a pad but not others. That suggests it was introduced, he said.

Hydrogen sulfide (H2S, CAS# 7783-06-4) is an extremely hazardous, toxic compound. It is a colorless, flammable gas that can be identified in relatively low concentrations, by a characteristic rotten egg odor. The gas occurs naturally in coal pits, sulfur springs, gas wells, and as a product of decaying sulfur-containing organic matter, particularly under low oxygen conditions.

Hydrogen sulfide has a very low odor threshold, with its smell being easily perceptible at concentrations well below 1 part per million (ppm) in air. The odor increases as the gas becomes more concentrated, with the strong rotten egg smell recognizable up to 30 ppm. Above this level, the gas is reported to have a sickeningly sweet odor up to around 100 ppm.

However, at concentrations above 100 ppm, a person's ability to detect the gas is affected by rapid temporary paralysis of the olfactory nerves in the nose, leading to a loss of the sense of smell. This means that the gas can be present at dangerously high concentrations, with no perceivable odor.

Prolonged exposure to lower concentrations can also result in similar effects of olfactory fatigue. This unusual property of hydrogen sulfide makes it extremely dangerous to rely totally on the sense of smell to warn of the presence of the gas.

Health Effects of Hydrogen Sulfide

H2S is classed as a chemical asphyxiant, similar to carbon monoxide and cyanide gases. It inhibits cellular respiration and uptake of oxygen, causing biochemical suffocation. Typical exposure symptoms include:

Prolonged exposures at lower levels can lead to bronchitis, pneumonia, migraine headaches, pulmonary edema, and loss of motor coordination.

Working with Hydrogen Sulfide

Most countries have legal limits in force that govern the maximum allowable levels of exposure to hydrogen sulfide in the working environment. A typical permissible exposure limit in many countries is 10 ppm. While the distinctive odor of H2S is easily detected, its olfactory fatigue effects mean that one cannot rely on the nose as a warning device. The only reliable way to determine exposure levels is to measure the amount in the air. Regular monitoring will help to identify areas and operations likely to exceed permissible exposure limits, and any areas that routinely pose overexposure hazards should be equipped with continuous monitoring systems.

With a vapor density of 1.19, hydrogen sulfide is approximately 20 percent heavier than air, so this invisible gas will collect in depressions in the ground and in confined spaces. The use of direct reading gas detection instrumentation should be required before entering confined spaces such as manholes, tanks, pits, and reaction vessels that could contain an accumulation of H2S gas.

Wherever possible, exposure should be minimized by employing adequate engineering controls and safe working practices. Such methods include ensuring good ventilation and changing work procedures and practices. Where engineering controls cannot adequately control levels of exposure, it may be necessary to supplement them with the use of suitable personal protective equipment (PPE) such as supplied-air respirators. A qualified industrial hygienist or safety professional should be consulted for guidance on the suitability and correct use of respirators.

Should a co-worker ever be overcome by H2S gas, do not attempt a rescue until you are properly protected yourself. The rescuer can very easily get caught out by venturing into a confined space without adequate protection. Remember that at levels above 200 ppm, collapse, coma and death due to respiratory failure can occur within seconds after only a few inhalations so you can be overcome yourself very quickly. Such incidents are sadly all too common and only serve to make the rescue effort twice as difficult.

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